Six years...

Ben and I wrapped up our sixth year of marriage by driving fourteen hours with three kids who each had hacking coughs, runny noses, and goopy eyes down to Memphis... the weekend started shaky, at best.

The plan was to spend some time in Memphis with Ben's folks, relax, and then get some alone time... just me and my wonderful husband... for most of our anniversary day and overnight. Mmmm... glorious... Those plans began diminishing as we wiped snotty nose after snotty nose, were kept awake most of the nights by one of the kids crying, coughing, or complaining that their eyes wouldn't open (seriously gross... it's called a cold in the eye-as if there isn't enough places for junk to drain (nose, mouth) it also comes out the eye and goops them up and glues them shut... I know, sick, but you have to know what we were up against).

Grandma and grandpa were AWESOME, to say the least. They barely batted an eye at having to wipe countless nose and put up with lethargic, cranky kids. Isn't it great to be loved no matter what??? What's even better is having your own personal nurse to check their ears and to calm my nerves... as I worry that they're coming down with pink eye, croup, pneumonia, sinus infections, or possibly the first case of the bird flu in the US.

When we thought that there was no way we could leave our kids like that, his parents talked us into it, knowing that they may be up most of the night with at least one of them... now that's love. Ben and I were able to go ahead and leave for the day... no agenda, no kids, or cries, or whines. It was glorious. We debated what might do over coffee, saw a movie, listened to some jazz, stayed at a plush hotel, slept in, went out for breakfast... and didn't worry once about the kids.

Thanks Mom and Dad G. for making what could have been a disasterous weekend awesome!!